Antenna module interface extension

• US 6,538,606 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sicher, Alan Eric, Quinn, Liam B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US09/770,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/878, 343/879, 343/880, 343/893, 343/906
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer

Abstract

A computer system that provides for an antenna port with a bay or door that receives a module containing an antenna. The antenna module contains an antenna or a set of antennas that support wireless communication technologies contained in the computer system. The antenna module is “standardized” and can be used for various computer systems employing the standard port with the bay or door. The antenna module may be developed and certified separate from the notebook system. In addition to the antennas, a diversity switch may be added, the diversity switch is used to choose the proper antenna for communication. A high gain amplifier and filters to compensate for RF signals may also be added to the module. A receiver, transmitter, or transceiver device may be added to the module or may be placed in the computer system. Placing the device on the module allows the transmission of digital signals, providing decreased signal loss along transmission lines. Power is provided to the module by a separate power line from the computer system.

Claims

1. A mobile computing system comprising:

an antenna module having at least one antenna fixed within said antenna module; and

a housing including;

a slot capable of receiving said antenna module; and

a door, wherein the door encloses the antenna module entirely within the housing, said antenna module remaining housed within said slot and enclosed by said door while in operation.

2. The mobile computing system of claim 1 wherein

the slot comprises a set of mounting holes;

the antenna module comprises a set of mounting pins whereby the set of mounting pins is connected to the set of mounting holes.

3. The mobile computing system of claim 1 wherein the antenna module comprises an RF connector, and the slot comprises an RF connector capable of accepting the RF connector of the antenna module.

4. The mobile computing system of claim 2 wherein the antenna module comprises an RF connector, and the slot comprises an RF connector capable of accepting the RF connector of the antenna module.

5. The mobile computing system of claim 1 wherein the antenna module further comprises a microprocessor that provides antenna module information to the computing system.

6. The mobile computing system of claim 5 wherein said antenna module information comprises information regarding characteristics of said at least one antenna.

7. The mobile computing system of claim 1 wherein the antenna module further comprises a radome enclosing said at least one antenna.

8. An antenna system in a mobile computing system comprising:

an antenna module having a set of one or more antennas, said antenna module removable from said mobile computing system as a unit and entirely enclosed within a housing of said mobile computing system while in operation;

a high gain amplifier within said antenna module connected to the set of antennas, whereby the high gain amplifier adjusts signal integrity;

a radio device within said antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving analog signals, connected to the high gain amplifier; and

a baseband device within said antenna module connected to the radio device;

whereby the baseband device passes and receives digital signals from the radio device and passes information to and from the mobile computing system.

9. The antenna system of claim 8 wherein the set of antennas comprises a first antenna and a second antenna.

10. The antenna system of claim 9 wherein the antenna module comprises a power line to the mobile computing system.

11. The antenna system of claim 8 wherein the radio device transmits analog signals to said mobile computing system.

12. The antenna system of claim 11 wherein the module is sized to be enclosed within a bay of the mobile computing system during operation.

13. The antenna system of claim 8 further comprising a diversity switch capable of selecting an antenna from the set of antennas based on transmission or reception of the mobile computing system.

14. The antenna system of claim 8 wherein the module further comprises a microprocessor that provides antenna module information to the mobile computing system.

15. The antenna system of claim 14 wherein said antenna module information comprises information regarding characteristics of said set of antennas.

16. The antenna system of claim 15 wherein said antenna module information comprises serial digital information transmitted via a computer bus.

17. A portable computer comprising:

a computer housing;

a computer system located within said computer housing and including a bus;

a modular component comprising at least one antenna;

a bay in said computer housing adapted to receive said modular component;

a door coupled to said computer housing and adapted to enclose the modular component entirely within the computer housing; and

said modular component enclosed within said bay during operation, and coupled to said bus.

18. The portable computer of claim 17, wherein the modular component further comprises a microprocessor that provides antenna information to the computer system.

19. The portable computer of claim 18, wherein said antenna information comprises information regarding characteristics of said at least one antenna.

20. The portable computer of claim 19, wherein said antenna information comprises serial digital information transmitted via said first computer bus.